title: Pharmacological investigation on the role of dopamine in the rat locus coeruleus.
abstract: The role of dopamine (DA) in the rat locus coeruleus (LC) was investigated by determining the levels of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), DA and noradrenaline (NA) in the LC after pharmacological treatments by pargyline, haloperidol, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and desmethylimipramine (DMI). The DA, DOPAC and NA contents of the LC were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography. Fifteen days after 6-OHDA, the DOPAC and NA levels were reduced by 60%, but they remained constant after 6-OHDA + DMI. Pargyline provoked highly significant increases in DA and NA but reduced DOPAC to non-measurable amounts. haloperidol caused a 54% decrease in the DOPAC levels. Pargyline and haloperidol administered to rats having received 6-OHDA + DMI 15 days before, caused similar effects on DA, DOPAC and NA levels as those in non-treated rats. It is suggested that DOPAC is mainly located in noradrenergic neurons, thus eliminating the possibility of a significant DA cell body population in the rat LC.
mesh_terms: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003891:Desipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D016627:Oxidopamine; D010293:Pargyline / Q000494:pharmacology; D010648:Phenylacetates / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D010648:Phenylacetates; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D016627:Oxidopamine; D010293:Pargyline; D006220:Haloperidol; D003891:Desipramine; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine